Years ago for Sunday, Jul 20, 2014

July 17, 2014 at 2:17 a.m.

1914

July 25 - Much interest has been taken in the gubernatorial campaign in Victoria County in the past few weeks. The interest increased as the election day drew near - until yesterday, last night and today, the fever heat point has been reached.

The Ball and Ferguson forces have had their wire workers busy and working overtime in almost every section of the county. Much and various kinds of literature has been circulated among the voters, and incidentally, some of it is of a nature that brands this as a most bitter campaign.

1939

July 25 - Bob Smith and David Calliham teamed up to put on a very educational and instructive program at today's weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club at the Manhattan Cafe. The two young men each gave the early history of their businesses: Smith on hardware and Calliham on variety stores.

July 26 - Captain G.P. Nulty of the State Highway Patrol with headquarters in Corpus Christi, while in Victoria today on a tour of inspection, instructed the patrolmen stationed here to exercise particular vigilance with respect to the ownership of cattle running at large on highway right of ways. There have been several accidents in this vicinity recently, one resulting in a fatality.

1964

July 22 - Adult leaders honored by the Victoria County 4-H Club Tuesday evening included Louis Wedemeier, 15-year service pin; Mrs. Herbert Maurer, 10 years; and Mrs. R.L. Lohl and Mrs. William Roell, five years.

July 24 - Local law enforcement officers will attend an FBI-sponsored discussion of the provision of the newly enacted Civil Rights Act on Aug. 6 in Houston. Police Chief John Guseman said he will attend along with Police Lts. Robert Gisler, R.H. (Bob) Winley, Marcus Wilden and Tom Kennedy. Sheriff M.W. (Montie) Marshall plans to attend the conference also.

1989

July 20 - Those strange-looking marks showing up on Victoria's streets have some city residents puzzled.

But Edward Menville, director of engineering for the city, said there really is no mystery involved.

He explained they are being made by summer interns who are gathering information for the PAVER program. It is a computer program that city officials hope will help them maintain Victoria's streets on a regular basis and with less cost.

"We can scientifically or quantitatively evaluate the pavement" with the program, said Paul Boyer, assistant city engineer. "If we spend a dollar on maintenance early enough, it saves us from having to spend $4 or $5 later."

Boyer said the interns mark representative sections of various roads in the city and then gather data on such things as potholes, cracks and ruts.

Generally, streets are divided into half-mile sections, which are then divided into 100-foot sections. These smaller sections are used as representative samples.

"We load it into the computer, and it cranks through and tells us how the pavement rates," he said. "It gives a pavement condition index."

July 21 - Four Victoria residents are included on Texas Monthly's list of the 100 richest Texans.

Albert B. Alkek, Victoria oilman and philanthropist, is No. 35 on the list and shown with a net worth of $270 million.

Three members of the O'Connor family, prominent in oil, ranching and banking, are listed 43rd through 45th. They are Dennis Martin O'Connor, Mary O'Connor Braman and Tom O'Connor Jr.

The magazine puts the net worth of the three O'Connors at $750 million.

"In some ways, there's something sad about it, but you can't stay the same, you know," former Frels Theatres owner Rubin S. Frels said Saturday.

Frels sold the theater business, founded by his father nearly 75 years ago, at a time when profits were running high. Frels said the motion picture business is doing well this summer, and a few weeks ago, Frels Theatres achieved the highest gross profit in its history.

"I've always loved the theater business, but there are many other things I'd like to do," said Frels.

Frels will continue to own and operate Frels Pipe Organs, a business dedicated to restoration of the instruments. At the same time, the pipe organ business will continue to be operated from the Old Federal Building at the corner of William and Constitution streets.

Offices for the Cinemark theaters in Victoria will be located at Cinema IV Theater. Gary Dunnam will continue as general manager of the three theaters.